The air in the alley felt heavy, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
Mohit stood still, his eyes locked onto the shadowy wolf-like creature. Every sound around him felt amplified — the distant hum of traffic, the faint rustle of trash bags, even his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
The spiritual beast took a slow step forward.
Its paws touched the ground without making much noise, yet Mohit could feel its presence like a pressure wave moving through the air. The glowing patterns beneath its dark fur pulsed faintly, as if energy was flowing inside its body.
Mohit swallowed.
This thing is real… and dangerous.
His mind raced, searching for any memory, any instinct that could help him survive this moment. He was not a fighter. He was just a normal student who had awakened something he barely understood.
But running blindly would only expose his back.
The beast suddenly lowered its body.
Mohit's muscles tightened.
A split second later, it lunged again.
Mohit threw himself to the side, rolling across the rough concrete. Dust scraped against his palms, and a sharp sting shot through his elbow. The beast's claws sliced the air where his head had been moments earlier.
His heart hammered violently.
Too fast!
He scrambled back to his feet, breathing hard. The creature turned smoothly and stalked toward him, its glowing eyes calm and focused — like a hunter that knew its prey could not escape.
Mohit forced himself to stay steady.
"Think… use what you have," he whispered.
He closed his eyes briefly and reached inward, searching for that faint warmth inside his chest. The small flame-like energy responded, trembling as if unsure but willing.
Slowly, he guided it toward his legs.
A strange sensation spread through his muscles — light, tingling, slightly burning.
The beast moved again.
This time, Mohit felt it before he saw it. His senses sharpened, allowing him to detect the shift in air and pressure.
He jumped backward just in time.
The beast's claws scraped the wall instead, sending small chips of brick flying.
Mohit's eyes widened.
I… dodged it.
A spark of confidence ignited inside him.
The beast growled, clearly irritated now. Its body tensed again, preparing for another attack.
Mohit steadied his breathing.
He focused the energy once more, guiding it into his arms. His fingers felt warmer, stronger, almost buzzing faintly.
When the beast lunged for the third time, Mohit didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
With all his courage, he thrust his palm outward.
A faint ripple of purple energy burst from his hand, like a weak wave of distorted air. It wasn't powerful — but it was enough to surprise the creature.
The ripple struck the beast's shoulder.
The creature stumbled back slightly, its claws scraping loudly against the ground. It let out a sharp growl, clearly startled by the unfamiliar force.
Mohit stared at his own hand in disbelief.
"I did that…"
The energy around his fingers faded quickly, leaving a slight numbness behind.
But the beast was no longer cautious.
Its eyes burned brighter.
It roared and charged again, faster and more aggressively than before.
Mohit's confidence vanished instantly.
His legs moved on instinct as he dodged sideways, barely avoiding a direct hit. The beast slammed into a pile of broken crates, sending wood splintering into the air.
Mohit felt his energy draining. His chest felt tight, his breathing uneven.
I can't keep this up…
His senses suddenly picked up something else — a faint vibration deep underground, like a distant echo.
The same strange calling he had felt near the mountains.
The beast hesitated.
Its ears twitched. It glanced briefly toward the deeper darkness of the alley, as if sensing something greater than both of them.
For a brief moment, silence returned.
Mohit took this chance.
He backed away slowly, careful not to make sudden movements. His heart was still racing, but his mind remained sharp.
The beast stared at him for a few seconds longer… then slowly retreated into the shadows, disappearing as silently as it had appeared.
Mohit collapsed against the wall, sliding down onto the cold ground.
His entire body trembled.
"I'm alive…" he whispered, half laughing, half exhausted.
His hands still glowed faintly for a second before the light faded completely.
He looked up at the night sky between the buildings.
"This world… is much bigger than I ever imagined."
Somewhere in the darkness, unseen forces continued to move.
And Mohit had just taken his first step into their world.